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Related Experiment Videos

Catechol-o-methyl transferase activity in the human term placenta.

E R Barnea1, N J MacLusky, A H DeCherney

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

American Journal of Perinatology
|April 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Placental catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity is significantly lower in pregnancies complicated by hypertension. This enzyme plays a key role in metabolizing catecholamines and catechol estrogens.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is crucial for metabolizing catecholamines and catechol estrogens.
  • Understanding COMT activity in placental tissue is important for high-risk pregnancies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in placental tissue.
  • To investigate COMT activity in normal versus high-risk pregnancies, particularly those with hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Radioenzymatic techniques were used to assay COMT activity in placental cytosol.
  • High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified the enzymatic product.
  • COMT activity was compared between control and hypertensive (toxemia, chronic hypertension) groups.

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Main Results:

  • The catechol estrogen 20-hydroxyestrone (2OHE1) has a significantly higher affinity for COMT than catecholamines.
  • Placental COMT activity was significantly lower in women with hypertension compared to controls.
  • No significant differences in COMT activity were observed in relation to delivery mode, diabetes, or fetal distress.

Conclusions:

  • Placental COMT activity is reduced in hypertensive pregnancies.
  • Antihypertensive drugs tested did not affect COMT activity.
  • COMT may play a role in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension.